How to Smash Strongholds in Your Mind
by Lucy | Jan 7, 2020 | biblical counseling, emotions, thoughts
What are strongholds?
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (ESV)
How should we destroy strongholds?
The more we accept true thoughts and reject false ones, we are taking every thought captive to obey Christ AND at least two wonderful things happen.
1. The strongholds in our mind weaken and are eventually destroyed.
2. We protect our minds against future attacks.
Katie (not her real name) used to say real awful things to herself for having had sex with her college boyfriend. As a child, she was taught that sex before marriage was wrong, but she went against her conscience anyway, rationalizing that she loved him.
After they broke up, she confessed to God that she had sinned. She knew God had forgiven her, but “could not let it go” and attempted to pay for her sin through continual self-abasement. Her ugly thought became a stronghold that continues to hound her because she has not taken it captive.
This is what victory looks like.
Like Katie, Patricia also had a stronghold. Hers was people-pleasing. She had grown up with a highly critical mother and an alcoholic father. Her response to home strife was to find her worth in pleasing her teachers by getting good grades. She lived for As.
Through biblical counseling, she learned to find her worth in God and to smash the strongholds in her mind and have victory. She took her thoughts captive with God’s help.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
As a result, Patricia has godly contentment. She is no longer a slave to people pleasing. Here are two truths she now highly values.
- Seeing herself as God sees her — accepted, blessed, forgiven, chosen, his precious child.
- Accepting the truth she she’s completely loved and need not earn God’s favor because she has it now.
Do you have a stronghold in your mind too? Do you want to destroy it? Feel free to ask me a question or request counseling. Contact me here. I counsel all over the world through the technology of video. Secure, compassionate, effective.
Faithfully yours,